Thwack!
"30-30!"
Yukimura wouldn't back down. Since his smash could be returned in such a way, he'd just switch to a different attack.
...
Thwack!
"40-30!"
...
Thwack!
"40-40! Deuce!"
...
Thwack!
"40-40! Advantage, Kamikawa!"
...
Thwack!
"Game, Kamikawa! 1-0."
Change sides!
Kamikawa broke Yukimura's serve. But Yukimura had also figured out Kamikawa's general strength. The "Bear Return" had a particularly strict activation condition: he had to get into position at the return point beforehand for it to work. Still, to be safe, Yukimura didn't use any more smashes in their subsequent rallies.
After switching serve, Yukimura stood at the baseline, racket held in both hands, his eyes glinting with a fierce desire to win. "Time to pick up the pace."
Thwack!
Kamikawa lifted his hand, sending a strong topspin serve, then moved towards the net.
"Serve and volley?!" Shishido's eyes widened. "He never did that against me!"
"Ryo, is there a chance... you were just too weak?" Mukahi couldn't help but tease, his gaze also fixed on Kamikawa. That guy's serve and volley motion was incredibly fast. The player serving truly held the initiative in a match. That's why the player who gets broken has to endure so much more pressure during a game.
But Yukimura's technique was superb. With a backhand, he sent a high-quality angled topspin shot, forcing Kamikawa back to the baseline. Both players dashed back and forth across the baseline.
Whump!
After multiple consecutive rallies, Yukimura suddenly hit a drop shot. Kamikawa quickly surged forward, flicked his racket, and once again sent up a lob. Yukimura leaped, striking a pose as if he were about to smash.
Bang!
With a crisp sound, the tennis ball hit the net, bounced a short distance, and fell.
"0-15!"
A feigned smash, but actually a drop shot?!
Kamikawa turned, looking at Yukimura. The key to the Bear Return was anticipating the opponent's attack method, predicting the smash trajectory, and counterattacking. This required a certain level of ball sense. But Yukimura's ball sense was even stronger, and he had clearly grasped the flaw in the Bear Return, extending the timing of his smash. While this might affect the power of the smash, the delayed hitting point indeed changed the ball's trajectory and landing position, even allowing for a forced net-skimming drop shot in this manner.
"Truly amazing judgment!" Inoue couldn't help but exclaim, then grabbed his camera, snapping several shots of the two players. He had a hunch that these two would become shining stars in the middle school tennis scene, absolutely no worse than that brilliant generation from back then!
"Are those two really elementary schoolers?"
"I've been learning tennis for seven or eight years, and comparing myself to them now... I feel like those seven or eight years were wasted. How big is this gap?!"
"Ah, tennis... talent is everything in this sport. And clearly, the talent of these two on the court surpasses that of most tennis players. It's astonishing, world-shaking talent!"
The spectators marveled at their talent, realizing that comparing oneself to others could truly be disheartening. Both Kamikawa and Yukimura were playing at an incredibly high level; even last year's middle school national tournament, hailed as the most exciting ever, was perhaps only on par in terms of brilliance.
Thwack!!!
On the court, the rally continued. Kamikawa seized an opening while Yukimura was off-guard, countering with a quick attack.
"15-15!"
Thwack!
Next serve, Yukimura capitalized on Kamikawa's error, returning the shot.
"15-30!"
...
Thwack!
"30-30!"
...
Thwack!
"30-40!"
...
Thwack!
"Game, Yukimura! 1-1!"
In the second game, Yukimura broke serve, taking this round. The match was once again back to an even standing. Both players launched attacks from the baseline, going left and right, giving no quarter, seizing firmly onto their opponent's return errors and breaking through. Such a thrilling rally had the audience on the edge of their seats.
"Both players have been aggressively attacking from the start, hitting the ball to the left and right corners of the baseline, constantly wearing each other down. This physical exhaustion is mutual."
"If one player is too eager to attack alone..."
"Now, it's just a matter of which side can find the breakthrough point first."
Outside the court, Sakata, the club coach for Yukimura and Sanada, was intently observing the match. Compared to the boisterous, power-oriented Sanada, Sakata preferred the more controlled and skillful Yukimura, especially given Yukimura's astonishing performance in Kanagawa Prefecture. He and Sanada often played practice matches, but as their tennis club coach, he always felt that Yukimura was hiding his true abilities; he had yet to see him play at full strength. This opponent was strong; it was time for Yukimura to give it his all.
"Speaking of which, Sanada's match should be over by now, right?"
Sakata had been staying in Group B, watching Yukimura and Kamikawa's match, and hadn't paid attention to Group A. In his mind, given Sanada's current displayed strength, no one would be able to beat him, especially an unknown like Kunimitsu Tezuka. Thinking this, Sakata turned to walk towards the Group A court, only to witness a scene that shocked him.
"This... how is this possible?!"
Sanada on the court was being forced to run back and forth, sweat pouring from his forehead, panting heavily, his cap now reversed. And the glaring 3-0 score was an undeniable blow to Sakata!
"Kunimitsu Tezuka..."
Sakata's mind was reeling. How could anyone do this? Sanada was the best player in Kanagawa Prefecture, second only to Yukimura. In all the tennis tournaments, big and small, in Kanagawa, Sanada had absolutely dominated, with only Yukimura able to truly challenge him. No one else could even score a single point. Yet, the facts were right before his eyes. In Group B, they were only in the third game, and Sanada was already down 3-0. And judging by Sanada's sweating, the pressure on him was immense.
"Perhaps... the favorite to win this time isn't Yukimura, nor that player named Kamikawa. It must be this Kunimitsu Tezuka from Tokyo." Sakata's voice trembled slightly. As expected of Tokyo, full of hidden talents. A few years ago, there was someone like Moonlight Ochi, and now, two monsters have appeared simultaneously this year?!
...
"Third game, Yukimura serving!"
"The feeling-out process is over, isn't it?"
Kamikawa took the tennis ball from the ball boy, turned his head, and smiled at Yukimura. "You should start showing your true strength now. Otherwise, this match is getting a bit boring."
"What?!" The crowd outside looked at each other in unison. Could it be that this isn't even their true strength yet?!
Yukimura, hearing this, glanced at Kamikawa, once again sensing the aura emanating from him. Someone who hasn't mastered 'power,' yet saw through me?
Yukimura said nothing more, simply tossed the ball, raised his arm, and swung his racket, all in one fluid motion.
Thwack!
This shot was of incredibly high quality, landing directly on the edge of the left service box line.
"This shot..."
Kamikawa, standing behind the baseline, quickly moved towards the landing spot, and chasing after the ball, unleashed a straight shot.
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